The bathroom stall phone call
Like it or not, cell phones at work have become a fact of life. But just because your little portable pal is ringing, doesn’t mean you need to answer.
Like it or not, cell phones at work have become a fact of life. But just because your little portable pal is ringing, doesn’t mean you need to answer.
This week, according to the CTIA Wireless Association, cell phone penetration hit 82% in the US. Presumably we in Canada can’t be far behind.
With so many people carrying phones with them, it shouldn’t be a surprise that we use them literally everywhere we go. The question is, where do we (or should we) draw the line?
When Marc Saltzman recently asked the question Do You Drive and Talk? we heard from a lot of folks who feel that talking and driving is unnacceptable. Seems almost everyone has a story about a bad driver who suddenly veered into another lane because they were too busy talking on the phone to do a proper shoulder check.
It also appears that people are getting fed up with cell phone conversations or random ringtones spoiling their dinners while at restaurants or in movie theatres. Manufacturers are ‘answering the call’ for privacy with >personal cell phone jammers that can supposedly block all calls to and from mobile phones within a 40 foot radius. Think that’s a great idea? Think again: they are >definitely not legal in Canada.
But perhaps the most socially questionable use of mobile technology is in the bathroom, especially public ones. Stuart Jeffries from the Guardian has mused on the ability some men have shown in being able to >urinate and conduct a phone call simultaneously. Yes, it seems >women do this too.
Why do we feel the need to be in touch no matter where we are or what we are in the middle of doing? Recently a colleague of mine called me and asked, "I just tried calling you on your cell – you didn’t pick up." "I know, I was in the bathroom," I replied. Pause. "Oh," he said. Hmm, maybe bodily functions are no longer an excuse for missing a call.
Then there’s the whole question of hygiene. You wash your hands after doing your business (don’t you?) – maybe we should be wiping off our handsets too. It’s been well documented that our >computer keyboards can be filthier than toilet seats. I wonder what the germ count on a typical Blackberry is.
So where do you stand (or sit) on the question of cell phones in the bathroom? Is it ok to place or take a call while on the toilet? Are there other places or times when using a phone or PDA is simply not okay?
Filed Under: Handhelds > Portable Devices > Rants
People on the crapper talking away next to me is really disturbing.. thats why when and if this happens.. I am certain to flush my toilet more than once, turn the water to full when washing up and foregoinging the paper towels for the more environmentally friendly (read louder) air dryer..
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Ok, except that wastes tons of water. I dont think that someone talking on their phone is a big enough deal to want to be wasteful. Why do you care so much?
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Unfortunately we are becoming so harried in our lives that we can not even find private time for private activities.
You wonder why everyone is stressed and seemingly healthy people are always sick.
This constant barrage of information accessibility is killing us. Take 5 minutes for yourself! Do it right now, close the office door and relax! You will be shocked at how liberating it is.
JUST UNPLUG!!!!!!!!
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Laura's perfectly right! It isn't such a big deal to justify this type of harrasment, let alone the waste.
I'd much rather listen to a phone conversation than to the other noises…
Which brings me to my pet peeve of public bathrooms: who the heck invented these "open concept" toilets anyway?
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Talking to yery few of us is that vital to the well-being and survival of the human race that we can't turn the damn things off. If we think we are so important we need to carry on a conversation in the public washroom, or a restaurant, then narcissism has won!!
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First off, there's nothing new here; people have been doing it for years with regular phones, then cordless phones, and now cell phones.
But people talk in person while on the pot or taking a piss, so what's the difference between that and the phone? Well, assuming the person you're talking to doesn't mind; I rarely answer the phone in the bathroom because I don't want to offend the person on the other end of the line: Yeah, I need you to have that report to me by 3 o'clock; can you do that? Plus, at some point I'll need my hands, and I really don't trust my shoulder to keep the phone from making a big splash.
However, if it's something important in a single-user bathroom I'll pause my sounds long enough to get the important message. And yes, I clean the phone off afterwards (I also clean my keyboard every so often).
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Oops, it killed my text-sound because it looked like HTML (I used the wrong braces): that's supposed to read "Yeah, I need you to have that report to me by {loud, disgusting sound} 3 o'clock; can you do that?"
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I've been injured by people driving with cell phones-shouldn't be allowed when driving. People need time in the privacy of the bathroom, who needs dinner ruined, and as the world gets ruder and ruder most of it being caused by the stupid cell phone. We all existed before the contraption was invented and maybe people need the sound of silence once in awhile to get hold of their minds. Bring peace to this world not mania.
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Cell phones ringing in the bath room are not the only annoyance. When you are having a conversation or a meeting with another person, to properly listen you must give your undivided attention. Cell phones ringing in meetings are very annoying. If you can't silence the ring and call back later – get out of my meeting, you are disturbing those who want to be there.
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Well it finally came to pass,phones in the bathroom!What is wrong with this picture? I do not think that there is anything important enough to have whatever I am doing in there {interfered with} by a phone-call!A phone to me has its place in my livingroom and if I am not there to answer,too bad leave a message and if I like what I hear may-be I will get back to you!I WILL NOT carry a phone with me at any time!Long story short,if you do not want to be bothered with a phone in every part of your life,just dont carry one!
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Vlad has it right. Just say no!
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No phones in the bathroom period! Especially now that some have cameras. I carry a cell phone as I require one for business; however, I set limits on when I am available to answer. I have set hours for when I take and return calls. I refuse to take calls when in transit, in the company of others, or any other inappropriate time… unless it is very important.
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The fact that we have to even ask this question says a lot for our society. I personally do not want to speak to someone while they are using the facilities or be interrupting someone's dinner unless the call is a life or death situation (and I mean life or death). I've also been dealing with customers in banks and medical clinics who have stood there talking on their phones. When did RUDE become socially acceptable?
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I like talking on my cell when I'm vulnerable. Sometimes I call the guy in the next stall and talk for hours.
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Yup. Look at us, evolving.
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Cell phone usage is out of control. I don't advocate government intervention, but I do advocate people letting others know how rude it is to be carrying on a phone conversation in such places as the restroom, grocery stores, fast food restaurants, etc. The idea that someone "needs" to talk on a phone at all times is ridiculous. Businesses shouldn't have to remind patrons to shut of cell phones or install blocking devices – but if a business wants to then I am all for it.
I get tired of dealing with idiots on the road with one hand on the cell, one hand around the cup of coffee, and no hands on the steering wheel. As someone else said, when did it become socially acceptable to become rude? And when did it become the social norm to be so self absorbed that we forget about others around us – for safety reasons as well as common courtesy?
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I find it disgusting that people are using their phones in bathrooms. They may as well build a toilet in the middle of the office or living room so that they dont have the inconvenience of going to a small room in private. If these people dont mind you hearing everything then they dont mind you seeing everything. DISGUSTING.
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I can understand people being upset when someone is using a cell phone while driving; that is endangering other people. Or during a movie, in a library, or a meeting; all places where you will be disturbing others by having your own personal conversation.
However if I'm on the phone in a grocery store, at a restaurant, on the bus or any other public place; I don't feel anyone has a right to call me rude. I'm not interrupting you and what you're doing and quite frankly I'm making less noise then if the person I'm talking to was there with me.
Washrooms are a little disgusting to be on the phone during, but again, i fail to see how these people are negatively affecting anyone other then themselves.
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I tend to agree with Christina.
It is an unfortunate consequence of the ever-growing age of technology that everyone and anyone has a cell phone. It can be argued that people are using them at inappropriate times and in inappropriate places, but these accusations should be made with some leniency.
Since we are constantly being bombarded with new technology (especially ways of communication), it can take some time to get used to. Getting used to people talking on their cell phones seemingly everywhere they go may be a difficult adjustment, but it is the reality of our society.
There should obviously be cell phone etiquette; i.e. not blatantly ignoring the cashier trying to serve you because you're chatting away, not answering your phone during class, not rudely interrupting someone in the middle of a conversation to answer a call, etc. However, placing restrictions on WHERE someone can use their phone is a little ridiculous. Who are you to tell people where they can and cannot use their phones? If it is not directly affecting you, then what do you care?
Also, why are people so upset that others wish to be reached outside of their homes? Many people have cell phones for emergency purposes, or so that they can keep in touch with their children when they go out, etc. It is only in Western society that we are taught to distance ourselves so much from people that it is actually frowned upon when someone wishes to bridge the gap between themselves and their friends and family.
I think people have nothing better to do than find something to complain about, and should start focusing their energy towards something more productive.
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Someone mentioned courtesy. There is none – nor is there respect, honesty, trust or any of the other values that the older generation had been taught. What happened to all of that? Please, don't blame all that we are responsible for on technology, although there is a place and a time for certain tasks and we all should be responsible for knowing what the are and where they are to take place
Katherine
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